What Is The Connection Between Low Blood Pressure And Fatigue
Low blood pressure and fatigue often occur together and might be a sign of a serious medical condition. In some cases, hypotension, or low blood pressure, might be a direct cause of fatigue. In other cases, they are both symptoms of an underlying condition.
Hypotension occurs when blood pressure dips to an abnormally low level. The ranges of normal blood pressure vary from one individual to another, and no specific threshold defines low blood pressure, but some medical professionals use 90 systolic and 60 diastolic as a general benchmark. When either measurement falls below these markers, further investigation might be necessary.
Chronically low blood pressure is not, however, a cause for concern unless it is coupled with other symptoms. Low blood pressure and fatigue are a signal that there might be a more serious condition. Other common signs include an inability to concentrate, lightheadedness or dizziness, dehydration, depression, blurred vision, nausea, rapid breathing and cold or clammy skin. When any combination of these symptoms are present, a visit to a healthcare professional is recommended.
Type 2 Diabetes In Older Adults
Your risk of type 2 diabetes goes up as you age because your body can become resistant to insulin and your pancreas might not work as well as it used to.
Diabetes is more likely to cause complications in people 65 and older, especially heart attacks, eye problems, loss of a leg , and kidney disease.
How To Manage Fatigue
Fatigue can have a huge impact on your life, but there are things you can do to manage the feeling.
If low blood sugar was the cause of the problem, it should usually get better after treatment. According to Diabetes UK, you should eat or drink 15-20g of fast-acting carbohydrate as soon as you realise you have low blood sugar. That might be:
- three glucose or dextrose tablets
- five jelly babies
- a small glass of sugar drinks, such as fizzy pop or fruit juice
- two tubes of glucose gel
Sleep
Getting enough sleep is the first step to managing fatigue. Most people need between six and nine hours of sleep.
Of course, this is not always easy, especially when the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes get in the way.
The NHS offers the following advice on getting to, and staying, asleep:
- sleep at regular times. Going to bed and getting up at the same time every day even at weekends helps the body get into a good sleep routine
- wind down before bed. You could try having a warm bath, reading a book, or doing breathing exercises to get the body ready to sleep
- a sleep-friendly bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool, with no electronic devices
- only use the bed for sleep and sex avoid watching TV, working, or studying in bed
Exercise
When you feel really tired, exercise might be the last thing on your mind. But it can help it will boost your energy levels.
Health and wellbeing website Healthline offers the following advice for finding the motivation to exercise:
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Your Adrenal Glands And Blood Sugar
- Adrenal hormones are needed to increase blood glucose
Your adrenal glands respond to low blood sugar by increasing the productionof adrenal hormones.
Hypoglycemia is combated by decreased release of insulin and increased secretion of glucagon,epinephrine, cortisol, and growth hormone7
Epinephrine is important for short term or acute control of blood sugar.
Cortisol is not used in acute maintenance of blood glucose.But it is important in the longer term control of glucose levels.
There are couple of ways that you can experience hypoglycemia.
One way is called fasting hypoglycemia
.
If you have not eaten a meal for a few hours, your blood sugarlevels will start to drop. This is when your adrenal glands must respond.
If they can’t respond sufficiently, you will likely experience symptoms of hypoglycemia.
If you have something to eat, and immediately feel better …. it was likely hypoglycemia.
Another type is called Postprandial hypoglycemia
. This occurs after you eatfoods that spike bloodsugar very quickly.
When you eat food with sugar or other high glycemic foods, your blood glucose increases quickly8.
To try to counter the fast rise in blood glucose, your insulin levels also rise quickly. Increasedinsulin causes blood glucose to be absorbed into the liver as glycogen.
The problem is that your body can over-correct to high blood sugar byproducing too much insulin.
So you are more prone to the sugar crash
type of hypoglycemia (reactive hypoglycemia.
The Effects Of Low Blood Sugar On Your Body
Every cell in your body needs energy to function. The main source of energy might come as a surprise: Its sugar, also known as glucose. Blood sugar is essential to proper brain, heart, and digestive function. It even helps keep your skin and vision healthy.
When your blood sugar levels fall below the normal range, its called hypoglycemia. There are many identifiable symptoms of low blood sugar, but the only way to know if you have low blood sugar is by taking a blood glucose test.
Learn more about the symptoms of low blood sugar, as well as the long-term effects on the body.
most common reasons for low blood sugar are some medications used to treat diabetes, such as insulin.
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas doesnt make enough insulin, or your body cant use it properly. Too much insulin or oral diabetic medication can lower the blood sugar level, leading to hypoglycemia.
However, contrary to popular belief, low blood sugar isnt exclusive to diabetes, though it is rare. It can also happen if your body makes more insulin than it should.
Another possible cause of low blood sugar is drinking too much alcohol, especially over long periods of time. This can interfere with the livers ability to create a buildup of glucose and then release it into your bloodstream when you need it.
Other causes include:
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Common Symptoms Of Low Blood Sugar
When theres an insufficient supply of sugar to our brain and various parts of the body, were likely to feel less than optimal. Here are some common symptoms of low blood sugar:
- Sugar cravings
- Constant worrying, nervousness, anxiety, depression
- Headache, blurred vision, fainting, dizziness, drowsiness
- Forgetfulness, poor concentration, confusion, indecisiveness
- Digestive problems
- Heart palpitation, rapid pulse, tremor, cold sweats
- Muscle pain, numbness, twitching, cramps, poor coordination
- PMS irritability, anger, crying spells or mood swings
- Menstrual pain, irregular periods, heavy bleeding or amenorrhea
- Low sex drive, infertility
See below a graphic showing the effects of low blood sugar on the body and mind .
How To Identify Blood Sugar Spikes
Fatigue is associated with a myriad of other conditions, as well as just day-to-day life and other stressors, so it alone cannot tell you whether you are experiencing a blood sugar spike. People with diabetes are encouraged to keep tabs on their blood sugar levels to detect any sudden changes. This is one of the ways they can identify when blood sugar spikes happen.
The most common cause of high blood sugar is improper insulin production. Insulin is the hormone that is tasked with regulating blood sugar levels, and if it is not being produced at high enough levels or at all, it can lead to high blood sugar levels.
There are few reasons why insulin levels in the body are inadequate, including:
- Eating too much
- Not receiving enough insulin from treatment
- Having a malfunctioning diabetes pump
- Having insulin that is ineffective at managing blood sugar levels
Other risk factors that should be taken into consideration include weight, age, history of smoking, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure levels. These can all contribute to diabetes.
For a person without diabetes, insulin levels are unlikely to be considered at all. This is why it can be helpful to keep a food log and note levels of fatigue or other symptoms following every meal. If fatigue generally sets in after eating, it could be a sign that its attributed to blood sugar levels. If this does happen, it may indicate that a person should follow up with their healthcare provider and have their blood sugar levels checked.
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When To See A Doctor
A person with diabetes should see their doctor regularly to monitor and manage their diabetes.
They may also wish to consult a doctor who specializes in treating new or worsening fatigue that interferes with daily life.
People should seek medical attention for fatigue that occurs alongside other symptoms, such as fever, chills, or malaise, as these could indicate an infection.
What Is The Long
Chronic fatigue and continued low energy levels can take a toll on your life. Without the energy and motivation to complete daily activities, it can be difficult to work or even perform everyday functions.
Low energy can also be the result of a serious health condition that requires treatment. Untreated fatigue can damage your physical and mental health, so you need to seek treatment and follow the recommended care plan your doctor provides.
In This Article
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Early Signs And Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which your body doesnât make enough of a hormone called insulin or doesnât use insulin the way it should. Insulin helps carry glucose to your cells. So when thereâs a problem with the insulin, glucose builds up in your blood. Youâve probably heard this called high blood sugar.
About 90% of people who have diabetes have type 2. The other two main ones are type 1, in which your body stops making insulin, and gestational, which happens in pregnant women.
You can usually control type 2 diabetes with lifestyle changes. Some people also need medication.
You might not know that you have type 2 diabetes until it affects your health. About 1 in 4 people with the condition donât know that they have it.
Symptoms can come on slowly. They may include:
When To Speak To Your Healthcare Team About Fatigue
If you are experiencing regular fatigue you should speak to your healthcare team. They may want to look at your medications and they will usually have some tips on how to cope.
The team will also be able to offer medical advice on whether the extreme tiredness is a sign of something more serious, such as diabetes complications.
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What Are The Other Causes Of Fatigue
For a diabetic, tiredness and fatigue are mostly due to fluctuations in blood sugar levels but sometimes there can be other reason like the ones mentioned below:
- Lack of sleep
- Intake of too much caffeine
- Certain medicines
- Medical conditions like anaemia, hypothyroidism, arthritis etc
- Increased inflammation in the body
I hope you are feeling satisfied after knowing what is causing you to become tired all this time. Now even you can tell everyone around you why diabetics are tired throughout the day or after waking up.
Before concluding the blog, I will suggest you know one more important aspect of feeling tired or sleepy all the time with diabetes and that is when you should consult your Doctor.
A Low Blood Sugar Level And Driving
You may still be allowed to drive if you have diabetes or you’re at risk of a low blood sugar level for another reason, but you’ll need to do things to reduce the chance of this happening while you’re driving.
You also need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and your car insurance company about your condition.
For more information, see:
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Exercise Food And Alcohol
For people with type 1 diabetes, maintaining the correct blood glucose level involves balancing how much insulin you inject, the amount of food you eat, and how much energy you burn during exercise.
Hypoglycaemia may occur if you’ve taken your dose of insulin as usual, but your carbohydrate intake is lower than normal or has been used up more quickly. This may happen if you delay or miss a meal or snack, don’t eat enough carbohydrate, or exercise more than usual.
People with diabetes who’ve drunk too much alcohol, or drank alcohol on an empty stomach, can also get hypoglycaemia.
However, it’s not always possible to identify why a particular episode of hypoglycaemia has occurred, and sometimes it happens for no obvious reason.
How Can I Prevent Hypoglycemic Episodes
The key to preventing hypoglycemic events is managing diabetes:
- Follow your healthcare providers instructions about food and exercise.
- Track your blood sugar regularly, including before and after meals, before and after exercise and before bed.
- Take all your medications exactly as prescribed.
- When you do have a hypoglycemic event, write it down. Include details such as the time, what you ate recently, whether you exercised, the symptoms and your glucose level.
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Parents Of Children With Diabetes
If your child has diabetes and shows symptoms of hypoglycemia, it’s important to check their blood glucose level with a glucometer. If this is not possible, it is best to treat them as if they have hypoglycemia by giving them carbohydrates to prevent symptoms from getting worse.
Your child should have a safety plan in place for when they are not in your care, such as when they are at school, friends homes, or daycare. The plan should include whom they should talk to if they are not feeling well.
Talking to your child about their diabetes and the symptoms to be aware of helps keep them safe. When your child is aware that how theyre feeling is related to their blood sugar levels and diabetes management, they can learn to both self-identify and verbalize or signal to their parents when they need treatment.
The Afternoon Energy Crash
The survey results at the top of the page show that most common time people withadrenal fatigue experience hypoglycemia symptoms is in the afternoon.
Figure 1. Sample Saliva Test
For those that have taken a saliva adrenal fatigue test,they often find that they have low cortisol in the afternoon or evening.
Figure 1 shows a sample saliva test. Note the low cortisol at noon.
Some people have different saliva test results. But Figure 1 results are common.
This may explain why hypoglycemia is often worse in the afternoon. The adrenal glands seem more prone to runningout of gas in the afternoon, so they would be less able to respond to a drop blood sugar.
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What Is A Blood Sugar Crash
Before we dive into the science behind a blood sugar crash, hereâs a quick recap of what happens when you eat something containing carbohydrates.
Your body breaks down the carbohydrates in your food into its glucose building blocks, which pass into your bloodstream. Your blood sugar levels begin to rise, prompting your body to release insulin. In turn, this triggers your cells to take up the glucose to use for generating energy, swiftly returning your blood sugar levels to normal.
This is a perfectly normal process that happens in all of us, whatever we eat, and protects your body from the harmful effects of high blood sugar .
But when your blood sugar increases very steeply after eating, your body can release too much insulin, making your blood sugar plummet below normal levels. This is technically referred to as postprandial hypoglycemia or reactive hypoglycemia, but itâs commonly called a blood sugar âcrashâ.
Why Does Diabetes Make You Tired Read On To Know Why
Do you feel like laying on the bed even after waking up or doing nothing at all and still feeling tired all the time?
Having that lazy and drowsy feeling all the time can be irritating. But being a diabetic, did you know that tiredness can be related to diabetes?
Well, I can say that for sure because it used to happen with my uncle. My uncle was diagnosed with diabetes 5 years ago and his medicines were started at that time only. 2 years back, he started complaining about being tired and lazy all the time even when his job was simple.
When his complaints increased, he finally consulted his Doctor who saw my uncles blood sugar level trend and said that his blood sugar fluctuations are the reason behind his increasing tiredness.
From that moment onwards, he started improving his lifestyle and got his energy and normal blood sugar levels back. This is a happy ending to my uncles short story but did you know how diabetes makes you tired? No?
In this blog, were going to explain this common feeling that everyone experiences but dont talk about much. Lets understand the science and tips to get active again!
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Tingling Sensation Around The Mouth
If your mouth or lips are tingling, you might be experiencing hypoglycemia, according to Harvard Health. You might also feel tongue numbness or metallic taste in the mouth. It’s not entirely clear why this happens, but Cedars Sinai Hospital notes it’s possible that the nerves in the mouth and tongue react poorly to low blood sugar.
A Low Blood Sugar Level Without Diabetes
A low blood sugar level is uncommon in people who do not have diabetes.
Possible causes include:
- a gastric bypass
- other medical conditions, such as problems with your hormone levels, pancreas, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands or heart
- some medicines, including quinine
See a GP if you think you keep getting symptoms of a low blood sugar level. They can arrange some simple tests to check if your blood sugar level is low and try to find out what’s causing it.
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